The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-11-12

A Party without Principles or
Intelligent Leadershfp.

Intelligent Leadership.
Puck.
Where is the republican party
When we looked for it in 1860, We
found it where Lincoln, Sumner
Seward and Stanton led. Where are
we to look for it now? Is it in Ohio
where Governor Foraker walls and
raves, crying out that he has beer
snubbcd by the President whom he
insulted, and that only the utter an.
Inhalation of the democratic party
will wipe out the stain? Is it going
about the land with John Sherman
talking peace in the South and wal
in the North? Is it with Mr.. Ingalls,
who gets himself interviewed for q
popular magazine, in order to vent
his spite against the Chief Magis
trate? Is it with Mr.. Edmunds, OBJ
structing the business Of the nation
al Senate, so as to cause annoyance
to the nations President? We ask
in all seriousness, where is it? Sure
ly it is fair to judge of a party by its
leaders. There was never any doubt
of the men who led the party twenty.
five years ago. We knew their aims
their purposes, what they were do
ing and what they had to do. They
stood for their party, and they had
principles to uphold.
Can we say the same of any of the
men who to-day ask us to put the
republican party back into power.
Let us see what they have found te
say for themselves Of late years. Al
the last general election they told us
we must not choose democratic
president because he would pay pen
sions to rebel veterans; because he
would take them away from Unior
soldiers; because he would alter al
our revenue laws, and cripple oul
manufacturing industries; because
he would make it impossible for thu
negro to vote; because he would un
do all the good work done by the re
publican party, and ruin the bust
ness of the whole country. Well
we chose a democratic President
and took the awful responsibility O
the act. What has come to pass O
all these horrors?
Business is good; the laws and in
situations Of the country remain
pretty much as they were, except fol
the fact that we have the beginning
of navy, which we had not undel
republican rule; the negro still votes
when he feels like it and when cleo
ton time affords him an opportunity
no attempt has yet been made to re
imburse the southerners who LOST
their slaves; the Union soldiers still
draw their pensions, and the evil
minded democratic President has
signed more pension bills than any
one Of his predecessors; the only
pension bill passed for the benefi,
of confederate soldiers has beer
passed by republicans. and the ma
tional government has shown no in
clination to pay out one cent for any
such purpose-and, in fact, we have
found that every one of these proph
estes was bare, nonsensical false
hood. And now when the question
comes up once more, what have the
republican leaders to say against
our re-electing a democratic Presi
dent? Well, the same things ovel
again, of course.
1t is hard to believe that they arc
talking to sensible men. Dearly be
loved brethren, plain citizens of this
great republic, these professional
politicians care nothing for you OF
for the country's good, or for any
thing but their trade, which is Office
getting-and a sorry trade it is
They will tell you anything that you
will believe; they will appeal to the
weakest side of your nature; they
will rouse your passions in any way
they can, and they will do it to gel
your votes, and for no other reason
This very John Sherman, who is to
day so deeply SOLICITORS for the wei
fare of the negro, was, a generation
ago, just as solicitous to keep his
skirts clear of abolitionism. He i.
but type of his class. You ought
know this, and yet you let these mer
talk to you, and tell you palpabl,
lies, and stir you up to irrationa
anger over the most contemptibl,
and Insignificant differences of opin
ion. You will get tired of it all
some day-tired of quarreling with
your neighbor because . politician
tells you that the country is going tt
the dogs if your party doesn't stay
in office; tired Of supporting the poll
tician with the money you earn il
honest business. And then you will
wonder how you could ever have